“Britt McHenry, a host for Fox News’ Fox Nation streaming-video outlet, filed suit against the network and its corporate parent Tuesday, alleging she has been denied opportunities at the company after reporting claims she was harassed sexually by a former co-host, George Murdoch, who is also known as Tyrus,” Variety reports.
The lawsuit, which was filed in U.S. District Court in the Southern District of New York, reportedly seeks more than $75,000 in damages.
“It is the latest chapter in a long-running dispute between McHenry, a former ESPN anchor who has become known for her conservative views, and Fox News, which endured a series of harassment claims by current and former employees related to management by the network’s former boss, Roger Ailes, and has worked to change that culture in subsequent years,” Variety notes.
The report adds: “The suit also names Jennifer Rauchet, an executive producer; John Finley, Fox News’ executive vice president of development; and Moncia Mekeel, a senior vice president of human resources, as defendants.”
McHenry reportedly claims that Murdoch sent her harassing texts.
“He continues to work at the news organization, though on a separate production from McHenry,” Variety reports. “Earlier, the two were assigned to work together on a Fox Nation program called ‘Un-PC.’ In the suit, McHenry says she believes her professional career has suffered during her time at Fox News, and that she has been ignored by senior executives; left out of programming opportunities and events; and not promoted as much as some of her colleagues.”
Fox News responded to the lawsuit with a statement saying: “Ms. McHenry’s lawsuit recycles the same allegations she filed with the New York State Division of Human Rights in October, to which we filed a response on Friday. As we have previously stated, Ms. McHenry’s allegations have been fully investigated and we are confident our actions will be deemed entirely appropriate in litigation. We expect all of her claims to be dismissed.”
Considering the other sexual harassment lawsuits brought against Fox (and settled for way more than $75,000.00) I am surprised a sexual harassment lawyer would allow her to sue for only $75,000.00. She might want to consider getting a better lawyer and increasing the amount she is asking for.
She sounds like a pain in the rump.
Please gold diggers, leave this network alone. The have work to do that is vital to America’s success. Even it there’s an ounce of truth to it, please understand that there is a bigger picture.
Not sure what could be more “vital to America’s success” than protecting women from sexual harassment in the workplace. If there is “an ounce of truth” then it should be fully investigated. How can all the other working women at FOX, or anywhere else, have confidence to bring up their concerns if there is always some excuse used to dismiss their claim. It also is implying that women’s contributions are not important to America’s success. It is insulting and degrading to automatically accuse a woman of being a gold digger because she is raising an issue about sexual harassment. This is the kind of ignorance that allowed people like Harvey Weinstein and Matt Lauer get away with degrading women for decades. There is nothing more vital to America’s success than seriously protecting women in the workplace.